Foldable container



March 19, 1968 R. c. cox 3,3

FOLDABLE CONTA INER Fi led May 10, 1966 INVENTOR. ROBERT C. Cox

A ORNEYS Patented Mar. 19, 1968 3,373,917 FOLDABLE CONTAINER Robert C. Cox, 600 16th St., Oakland, Calif.

Filed May 10, 1966, Ser. No. 548,954 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A foldable container is described which is erectable from a substantially flat collapsed condition to a distended condition of expanded volume. The container includes a flexible liquid impervious liner which is secured adjacent the upper end of a fold-able outer casing of form retentive material so as to depend from such upper end into the casing interior upon erection. The container also includes a brace element which is hingedly secured to the interior of the casing adjacent its lower end so that it may be selectively positioned to brace a casing in distended po- SltiOIl to prevent collapse thereof, and simultaneously provide its supporting base to the lower end of the liner.

This invention relates generally to foldable containers, and is more particularly directed to a foldable container having a foldable outer casing of form retentive material providing backing support to a flexible liquid impervious inner liner.

Various foldable containers have been devised heretofore which are erectable from a substantially flat collapsed condition to a distended condition of expanded volume. Frequently such containers have included a flexible liquid impervious inner liner secured adjacent the upper end of a foldable outer casing of form retentive material so as to depend therefrom into the casing interior upon erection. However, subsequent to erection, such containers have tended to resume their collapsed condition inasmuch as there have not been provided any means for bracing the containers in distended condition. Moreover, with the existing containers the inner liners have had the backing support of the outer casings on only the side walls thereof. The weight of the liquid or other contentshas been therefore exerted substantially entirelyon the area of attachment of theliner to the upper end of the casing. The liner tends to stretch and sag such that the lower end of the liner is spaced from the casing and free to move about..A rather unstable support of the contents thus resulls.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved foldable lined container having means for bracing the container in its distended condition to thereby prevent unintended collapse thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a foldable lined container wherein base support, as well as side support of the liner is provided when the container is in its distended condition.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable lined container of the class described wherein opening of the liner is assured upon erection of the container into its distended condition.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a foldable lined container of the class described which may be used as a container for plants, and the like, and is readily adapted to the mass irrigation thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a foldable lined container of the class described that can be readily sealed in its collapsed condition.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with the present invention in its collapsed condition.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the container in partial erected condition, illustrating particularly the manner in which the container is erected by a brace element thereof and maintained in distended condition.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the erected container.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container with a portion of the outer casing thereof broken away to expose the relationship of the brace element to the liner.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of the erected container.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the container in collapsed condition which is provided with a sealed upper end.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of the container arranged to receive water from a mass irrigation system.

Considering now the invention in some detail and referring to the illustrated forms thereof in the drawing, there will be seen to be provided a foldable container 11 which basically includes a foldable tubular outer casing 12 of form retentive material such as paper board, or the like, and an inner bag like liner 13 of flexible liquid impervious material such as plastic film, or the like. More particularly, the casing may be formed from an elongated rectangular blank secured together at its opposite ends so as to define an open ended tube. The casing is provided with a plurality of spaced, longitudinally extending, scored, or otherwise weakened, fold lines 14 to render the casing readily foldable or unfoldable between collapsed and distended conditions. When the casing is collapsed, it has a substantially flat rectangular configuration, as shown in FIGURE 1. When the casing is distended, it has a polygonal cross section and encloses an increased volume, as shown in FIGURE 3. In fact, the casing assumes a substantially cylindrical confifuration when a relative large number of fold lines 14 are provided.

The liner 13 is secured, as by cementing, to the interior surface of the casing adjacent the upper end thereof. The liner has a substantially cylindrical configuration when opened, and by virtue of its flexibility can be readily collapsed substantially flat. Thus, when the casing is collapsed flat, the liner is likewise collapsed flat within the interior thereof. Since the liner is secured to the casing adjacent its upper end, the upper end of the liner is opened to a substantially cylindrical configuration when the casing is distended. The lower portion of the liner extends downwardly into the casing and is free to assume a cylindrical configuration supported by the casing.

As an extremely important feature of the present invention, the container 11 is provided with a brace element 16 which may be selectively positioned to brace the casing in distended position to prevent collapse thereof, and simultaneously provide a supporting base to the lower end of the liner. More particularly, the element 16 is formed of form retentive material, such as paper board, and has the configuration of a disc preferably conformed to the cross-section of the casing in distended condition, i.e., a polygon. The element is hingedly secured to the interior of the casing adjacent its lower end so as to be selectively pivotal between a position flat against the interior surface of the casing, and a second position displaced therefrom wherein the edges of the element conformably engage the interior surface of the casing to thereby brace same in its distended condition. To facilitate the foregoing, the element is preferably provided with a tab 17 projecting from one edge thereof and having a fold line 18 at such edge. The tab is secured to the interior surface of the casing adjacent its lower edge, the fold line 18 being parallel to, and upwardly spaced therefrom. Thus, when the element 16 is piVOted upward flat against the interior surface of the casing, as shown in FIGURE 4, the element is unobstructing to collapse of the casing to its fiat condition. Upon distending the casing, the element is exposed, as shown in FIGURE 2, and may be grasped and pivoted 90 downward to engage its edges with the interior surface of the casing, as shown in FIG- URE 5. To facilitate grasping of the element 16, same is preferably provided with a central finger hole 19. Support of the element in its bracing position is facilitated as by means of a stop 21 at the interior surface of the casing in diametrically opposed relation to the fold line 1?. The stop may be simply provided as a rectangular sheet of form retentive material secured to the interior surface of the casing, the upper edge of the sheet thereby defining a stop shoulder.

In order to assure opening of the liner upon erection of the container, the base of the liner is secured to the brace element 16. Preferably, the liner is secured to the element at an annular region 22 of attachment that is concentric with the finger hole 19 (see FIGURE 4). Thus, when the element 16 is pivoted downward to its bracing position, the lower end of the line is thereby pulled downward to an open position wherein the side wall of the liner tends to embrace the interior of the casing, and the base of the liner is supported atop the element.

In the illustrated form of the container 11, same is embodied as a cup. Accordingly, foldable handle structure 23 is preferably secured to the casing to facilitate grasping thereof.

It is contemplated that in some applications, a packet of a substance such as instant coffee, cocoa, tea, etc., may be provided within the container 11. Alternatively, the substance may be contained directly within the liner of the container. In any event, it may be desirable that the container be sealed. To this end a sealing strip 24 of tape or the like, is secured tothe upper end of the container in its collapsed condition in bridging relation to the upper end edges of the casing 12, .as shown in FIGURE 6. The strip may be torn from the casing, or otherwise removed or severed, when it is desired to erect the container to its distended condition.

In other applications of the container, a mixture" of plant seeds and growth promoting material may be contained in the inner liner, or subsequent to erection of the container it may be used as .a pot for plants, etc. In some instances, such as in nursery useage, it may be desirable to provide for the mass irrigation of the contents of a large quantity of such containers. The containers may then be modified as indicated in FIGURE 7. In this regard, a seal ring 26 of plastic or the like, having a relatively greater thickness than the liner, may be secured to the liner. A hole 27 may be provided in the casing to receive the ring when the container is in distended condition. A stub pipe 28 projecting from a water supply line 29 may then be inserted through the ring to break the portion of the liner circumscribed by the ring and enter the lining interior. Water may be thus introduced to the lining interior for the purpose of irrigation of the contents.

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable container comprising a foldable openended tubular casing of form retentive material erectable from a substantially flat collapsed condition to a distended condition of increased enclosed volume, a baglike liner of flexible liquid impervious material disposed with n said casing and permanently secured thereto adjacent a first end thereof, and a disc like brace element substantially conformed to the cross-section of said casing in said distended condition thereof, said element hingedly secured to the interior surface of said casing adjacent a second end thereof for pivotal movement between a first Gosftion flat against the interior surface of said casing 1nd a second position displaced therefrom wherein the edges of the element engage the interior surfaces of the casing to brace same in said distended condition. y l

2. A foldable container according to claim 1, further defined by a stop on the interior surface of said casing adjacent said second end thereof for engaging and supporting said brace element in said second position thereof.

3. A foldable container according to claim 1, further defined by the base of said liner being secured to said brace element.

4. A foldable container according to claim 1, further defined by said brace element having a hole therethrough.

5. A foldable container according to claim 1, further defined by said casing having a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending fold lines and having a polygonal cross-section in said distended condition, said brace element having a polygonal configuration conformed to said cross-section.

6. A foldable container according to claim 1, further defined by a ring secured to said liner having a thickness relatively greater than the th ckness of said liner, said casing having a hole for receiving said ring when said casing is in said distended condition.

7. A foldable container according to claim 5, further defined by the base of said lner being secured to said brace element.

8. A foldable container according to claim 7, further defined by a stop on the interior surface of said casing adjacent said second end thereof for engaging and supporting said brace element in said second position thereof.

9. A foldable container according to claim 8, further defined by sad brace element having a hole therethrough.

10. A foldable container according to claim 1,'further defined by a seal strip secured to said first end of said casing in bridging relation to the edges thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,911,073 5/1933 Dyment 22941 2,290,144 7/1942 Katz 229-41 3,003,678 l0/l96l Chase 2294l JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner,

Patent No. 3,373,917 March 19, 1968 Robert C. Cox

r appears in the above identified It is certified that erro are hereby corrected as patent and that said Letters Patent shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, line 3, for "Robert C. Cox, 600 16th St. Oakland, Calif. 94612" read Robert C. Cox, Oakland, Calif., a'ssignor to Jegco, Inc.,

Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California Signed and sealed this 24th day of June 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Ir.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, IR. 

